News from around the 32 counties of Ireland, week of October 7th

The principal of Antrim Primary School has urged parents and children to be vigilant until police catch the sinister stranger who attempted to lure an eight-year-old from the playground.

The alarming incident occurred Monday, September 23, at around 2 p.m. when the boy and his classmates were traveling from their room to another in the infant corridor.

It is a familiar trip for the children, but they are still routinely accompanied by teachers and classroom assistants.

Two weeks ago, however, one member of staff had to help one of the younger pupils at the toilet which meant some of the children crossed the playground unsupervised.

And a man who had been watching them pass attempted to seize the opportunity. He approached the child who had been dawdling behind the rest, calling over and telling him that he had been sent by his dad to pick him up.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

World line dance champion Shane McKeever was to receive a grand welcome last week in a special homecoming event in Crossmaglen’s Square.

Newry and Mourne District Council, in conjunction with Crossmaglen Community Association, St. Oliver Plunkett Youth Club, Crossmaglen Rangers and South Armagh Halloween Group, hosted the civic reception last Wednesday evening to celebrate Shane’s tremendous achievement scooping gold in the line dancing category of the first-ever World Dance Sport Games in China.

His world class accolade is especially significant as the World Dance Sport Games in Kaohsiung is the first competition of its kind where dance has officially been represented as a sport.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]
CARLOW

A Carlow teacher is under investigation for allegedly sending an inappropriate photograph to an underage girl.

The man, aged in his early 40s, is believed to have sent an intimate photograph to a 16-year-old girl.

The teacher works in a local secondary school.
[Source: Carlow Nationalist]
CAVAN

A Ballinamore shop-owner is celebrating almost as much the winner might after he was informed last Tuesday by the National Lottery Headquarters that a scratch-card sold in their newsagents shop bagged its buyer $68,000.

Representing a 5,000-1 return on the €10 All Cash Spectacular scratch-card, winning card-seller Philip Murphy of Murphy's newsagents in Ballinamore says the shop has become a lucky place at which to purchase lottery in recent years.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]
CLARE

“They’re my family and I love these guys to bits,” said Davy Fitzgerald at the Fair Green in Ennis Sunday evening, September 29.at a homecoming event for the Clare senior and U-21 sides.

An estimated 30,000 people turned out and shortly after 9 p.m. there were fantastic scenes of jubilation as the two All-Ireland winning panels arrived.

Addressing the supporters, Fitzgerald said the county has given his charges great support throughout the championship. “I’d like to start by saying that we know we have passionate players for sure, but by Jesus, we have passionate supporters as well.”
[Source: Clare Champion]

CORK

Student protests were taking place last Tuesday at U.C.C. and C.I.T. to protest in advance of the budget, which students fear will include cuts to the Student Maintenance Grant.

Students are worried as the maintenance grant has been cut in the last four budgets and they want to highlight to the government that “enough is enough.”

The average grant is $114, which students are comparing to the lowest rate of Jobseekers Allowance – $135 per week.
[Source: Cork Independent]
DERRY

Derry is to get a new iconic public artwork with a difference.

Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín announced details of the plan Sunday night, September 29, at an event to promote the Lumiere Light Festival, which opens in Derry next month.

The Minister has set aside funding for an illuminated sign on top of the Rosemount Factory.
[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL

Two secondary students were taken to hospital last Tuesday after an incident involving a jeep outside their school.

Gardaí (police) in Ballyshannon confirmed that a driver appeared to lose control of a jeep at Coláiste Cholmcille at around 1:30 p.m. Two students were struck by the vehicle.

Two students, a boy and a girl, were slightly injured in the incident and were taken to hospital as a precaution.
[Source: Donegal Democrat]

DOWN

The much anticipated Newry City Linkages Public Realm Scheme started last week. The major refurbishing works will see the appearance of Newry Canal transformed forever. The scheme will comprise the replacement of the existing canal boundary wall with a new decorative maritime railing and the removal of car parking spaces to facilitate the provision of a new wider granite paved/curbed pathway. New decorative street lighting, street furniture, tree planting and public art is also proposed as part of the scheme.

The scheme begins in Sugar Island and will then move in sections towards the Albert Basin, with an expected completion date of June 2014.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

DUBLIN

The publican brother of Environment Minister Phil Hogan has been banned from driving after drinking 15 pints before crashing his car.

Paddy Hogan (51), who owns the Hogan Stand pub in Tullow, County Carlow, appeared before Baltinglass District Court where Judge David Kennedy found him guilty of drink-driving.

He was barred from driving for four years and fined $950 for the offense under Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act.
[Source: Evening Herald]
FERMANAGH

Fermanagh’s out-of-work figure for last month, at 4.7 percent of the working population, is below the Northern Ireland average of 6.9 percent for the quarter, May to July.

And, it compares favorably with the out-of-work rate for the south of 13.5 percent. That is the positive side for Fermanagh, which just recently saw 40 employees laid off with the closure of the Flynn Fine Foods plant in Roslea.
[Source: Fermanagh Herald]

GALWAY

There's been an eight percent increase in the number of new cars sold in Galway.

Figures compiled by the Society of the Irish Motoring Industry show that 104 vehicles were sold throughout the city and county last month.

This compares to 96 in September 2012.

Nationally, new car sales for September show a rise of 28 percent.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY

Gardaí (police) have issued an appeal for witnesses after two people were killed in a collision involving a car and truck in south County Kerry last Monday afternoon.

A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were fatally injured in the crash, which happened at Cloon on the Cahirciveen to Ballinskelligs Road at approximately 12:25 p.m.

Three units of the fire service, ambulances and Gardaí attended the scene.

It is understood those driving the car were tourists visiting the area.
[Source: Irish Times]

KILDARE

Former Leinster Championship-winning captain Glenn Ryan is now out of the running to replace Kieran McGeeney as Kildare senior football manager.

There was speculation that Ryan was interested in taking on the Lilywhites job, having met with County Board Chairman John McMahon last Monday morning.

But the two-time all-star center-back, who stepped down from his role as Longford manager in August, has ruled himself out of contention, as he is keen to have a long overdue break from G.A.A. matters.
[Source: Breaking News]

KILKENNY

The E.U. Directorate General for the Environment is to investigate Kilkenny County Council’s plans to demolish three houses on Vicar Street, it has been confirmed.

It follows a letter written by Ireland East M.E.P. Nessa Childers to the E.U. environment commissioner, Janez Potocnik, in support of a formal complaint made to the E.U. by Shirley O’ Brien and local Green Party Councilor Malcolm Noonan.

The complaint said that the proposed demolition of 20-22 Vicar Street, Kilkenny, to make way for a proposed Central Access Scheme, could be in breach of the E.U. Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments.
[Source: Kilkenny People]

LAOIS

Camross secured their 24th Laois S.H.C. title on Sunday evening, September 29, in O’Moore Park, as Zane Keenan inspired them to a three point-win over Borris-Kilcotton.

The most successful club in Laois club hurling took control of the game early in the second half, an apart from a 10-minute spell after half-time, always looked the likely winners. Indeed, they could have won by more, as the finished with 16 wides with nine of those coming in the first half.
[Source: Leinster Express]

LEITRIM

Acting County Manager Martin Dolan said it was a special day for Leitrim and Carrick when Minister Varadkar unveiled a beam from “possibly the first bridge” in the county town.

The historic oak beam, which was found in 2008 beneath the parking area immediately upriver of the Carrick-on-Shannon bridge on the Leitrim side of the River Shannon, has been encased in glass at the main area of Aras and Chontae, Carrick-on-Shannon.

Archaeologist Martin Timoney said the National Museum of Ireland is happy to have the historic beam kept here in the county.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]
LIMERICK

Former rugby greats, Keith Wood and David Wallace, are fully backing the Special Olympics that returns to Limerick next summer.

The return of the games was celebrated in style with a sell-out fundraising wine-and-dine evening in the Cornstore Restaurant.

All proceeds from the night will go towards supporting Special Olympics Munster at the 2014 Special Olympics Ireland Games.

The fundraising evening is the first in a calendar of activities scheduled to take part in Limerick in the build-up to next June’s event.
[Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD

Homeowners are being warned to ensure their properties are safely secured as Gardaí (police) last week investigated the latest series of break-ins to hit the county, writes Liam Cosgrove.

One incident, which they are particularly keen to solve, concerns the theft of several jewelry items from a house at Vickerstown in Ballymahon two weekends ago.

Like many similar cases of domestic burglaries, the house was unoccupied at the time.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

A state-of-the-art seven-screen cinema planned for the Dundalk Retail Park has been welcomed by a local councilor and cinema goers.

The cinema is being planned at the units formally occupied by Harvey Norman, who ceased trading at the retail park during the summer.

David Carson, the manager and receiver over Finnabair Estates Limited, who are in receivership, has submitted planning application to the Dundalk Town Council to covert the three units from a retail warehouse to the cinema.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]
MAYO

A farmer fears for his livelihood after becoming caught up in a legal mess involving two arms of the state – Mayo County Council and the Department of the Environment – over a causeway leading to an island in Clew Bay.

A number of years ago, Mayo County Council carried out improvement works on a causeway leading to Islandtaggert, a scenic island over 32 acres in size just off the mainland near Carrowholly, Westport. The works included raising the causeway and securing it with boulders. However, the council did not have a foreshore license to carry out the works, and it has now been ordered to reduce the causeway to the size it was before the improvements were made.

The matter was due before the high court, but Mayo County Council settled with the minister for Environment, Community and Local Government and the attorney general on January 22. The settlement dictating a reversal of works was published by the council on July 2.
[Source: The Mayo News]
MEATH

Work on the new emergency department at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, is due to start this month and is expected to be completed next summer.

The H.S.E. has confirmed that tenders for the new facility are currently under consideration and it is intended that works will commence in October.

The new E.D. will be developed on the site of the existing department, which will be temporarily relocated within the hospital, while work is underway.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

A 29-year-old man was stabbed to death in Cootehill, County Cavan Sunday, September 29.

The dead man was found by Gardaí (police) in the kitchen of a three-bedroom, two-story, semi-detached house at Lodge View estate in Cootehill at 1:05 a.m.

He has been named locally as Emmet Connolly (29), of Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan. Another 29-year-old man, a father-of-three originally from Dublin, was arrested that morning and is being questioned by Gardaí in Bailieboro Garda Station in Co. Cavan in connection to the stabbing under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
[Source: Irish Independent]

OFFALY

House price in Offaly in Q3 2013 were seven percent lower than a year previously, compared to a fall of 16 percent seen a year ago. The average house price is now $169,000, 58 percent below peak levels.

Prices in Dublin for the third quarter of the year however were up 7.7 percent compared to the same period in 2012, whilst outside of the capital prices fell by 6.7 percent leaving Offaly at about the average figure.
[Source: Offaly Express]

ROSCOMMON

The West North West Hospitals Group is facing an expected budget deficit of $33 million by the end of this year.

A meeting of the H.S.E. West’s regional health forum was told recently that significant reductions in spending had been achieved in the period up to the end of August. Nursing agency costs had been reduced by €0.8 million while overtime costs had been slashed by $1.6 million.
[Source: Galway Advertiser]

SLIGO

The number of online students at I.T. Sligo continues to increase, with 15 percent more in the last year alone, 6,000 signed up this month.

Students all over the world are studying degrees and certificates. I.T. Sligo is a national leader in online learning, as they were the first to deliver a M.O.O.C. (Massive Open Online Course) this year.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]
TIPPERARY

Fine Gael would appear to have left itself in a bit of a dilemma for next year’s local elections following the decision by party headquarters to instruct the local organization to select only three candidates for the new Nenagh Municipal Area at its selection convention last Monday, and the decision by sitting Councilor Phyll Bugler to withdraw from the race.

The party selected sitting councilor and current mayor, Ger Darcy, former Councilor Tom Berkery and Nenagh Town Councilor Tom Moylan to run in the expanded Nenagh/Borrisokane/Newport area, a spread that goes from Portumna bridge in the north to Ballina bridge in the south, and takes in Newport and Cloughjordan.
[Source: Tipperary Star]

TYRONE

A Dungannon man has been remanded in custody after being charged in connection with stabbings in Cookstown two weekends ago.

A police officer told a court he believed it was the result of a feud between two factions in Cookstown.

The accused said the two men who had been injured were part of a group he was trying to get out of a house.
[Source: Tyrone Courier]
WATERFORD

Having been under medical care following his diagnosis with a serious illness in July 201,1 the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Most Rev. Dr. William Lee, has announced his resignation.

In a statement, Bishop Lee said his illness had impacted greatly on his health and ministry.

“Recently the medical advice to me has been that, in the interests of my health, I should retire from the office of Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. Even though I found the time since diagnosis quite demanding, I had hoped that I would be able to continue in office and looked forward to doing so. Now, my doctors have advised otherwise,” he said.
[Source: Waterford News & Star]

WESTMEATH

Conditions for junior doctors going through their training at the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar are “grueling,” a young doctor who has been through the system in Mullingar has revealed.

And what most members of the public don’t realize is that the nightmare of lengthy shifts, working weeks of up to 100 hours, and long periods without sleep or meal-breaks have to be endured for up to seven years.

But, the doctor said how the system in Mullingar operates is no worse than in most hospitals throughout the country, which is why en masse, junior doctors voted earlier this year to strike in a bid to improve their working conditions.
[Source: Westmeath Examiner]

WEXFORD

Wexford County Chairman Diarmuid Devereux said the county is bitterly opposed to the proposed new formation for the 2014 National Hurling League describing it “as a blatant act of cynicism.”

With anger at the proposals growing in Wexford, Devereux has vowed to oppose this proposal taking the fight to the highest levels and calling on the support of “our friends and supporters to do so.”

“It seems as if Wexford is voiceless in Croke Park. We did not lose our Division One status, we drew with Tipperary to retain Division One hurling with our final game. At that time Croke Park decided they wanted a six-team division and we were dumped down to Divison 1B.”
[Source: Irish Times]

WICKLOW

A new nursing home in Bray, County Wicklow is promising 120 new jobs over the next three months in nursing, administration and other roles.

Elsewhere, professional services company E.Y. is creating 80 jobs on the island of Ireland, and travel firm TripAdvisor is to create 50 jobs in Dublin.

McMahon Healthcare Group, the developer of Cairnhill Nursing Home, which opens today, said its new positions will include catering, managerial and support roles.
[Source: RTE News]